Request for Proposal
Background
The Coast Guard currently counts with fleets of cutters, boats and aircraft to perform its many missions. Fixed-wing
aircraft in the fleet are the C-130 Hercules turboprops and HU-25 Falcon jets which operate from Air Stations of
varying sizes. The main missions performed by these vehicles, as well as by the fleet of rotorcraft, are Search and
Rescue (SAR), Law Enforcement, Environmental Response, Ice Operations, and Air Interdiction. However the most
critical mission that have traditionally been undertaken by aircraft assets correspond to SAR, Law enforcement and
Interdiction operations.
The following are excerpts taken form the USCG website (Source:
http://www.uscg.mil/datasheet/index.shtm)
Drug Interdiction - The Coast Guard is the lead federal agency for maritime drug
interdiction and shares lead responsibility for air interdiction with the U.S. Customs
Service. As such, it is a key player in combating the flow of illegal drugs to the United
States. The Coast Guard's mission is to reduce the supply of drugs from the source by
denying smugglers the use of air and maritime routes in the Transit Zone, a six million
square mile area, including the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and Eastern Pacific. In meeting
the challenge of patrolling this vast area, the Coast Guard coordinates closely with other
federal agencies and countries within the region to disrupt and deter the flow of illegal
drugs
Alien Migration Interdiction - The Coast Guard conducts patrols and coordinates with
other federal agencies and foreign countries to interdict undocumented migrants at sea,
denying them entry via maritime routes to the United States, its territories and
possessions. Thousands of people try to enter this country illegally every year using
maritime routes, many via smuggling operations.
Search and Rescue (SAR) is one of the Coast Guard's oldest missions. Minimizing the
loss of life, injury, property damage or loss by rendering aid to persons in distress and
property in the maritime environment has always been a Coast Guard priority. Coast
Guard SAR response involves multi-mission stations, cutters, aircraft and boats linked by
communications networks.
The growth in demand of this type of operations have spurred interest among the commanding ranks of the USCG
for potential replacements of current aircraft. A next-generation Interdiction Operations Aircraft (NG-IOA) that can
efficiently and effectively complete the aforementioned missions is desired.
Missions
Crew: 2 pilots, 4 equipment operators
Payload: Surveillance, detection and dedicated communication equipment weighing 4,500 lbs
Primary Mission – Deployment / Surveillance / Interdiction
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The NG-IOA will base its operations on bases at sea level. The take-off and landing field length must not
exceed 4,500 ft.
After takeoff it must climb to an optimum cruise altitude no lower than 25,000 ft and no higher than 37,000
ft.
Cruise out 300 nmi
Loiter at optimum altitude no lower than 25,000 ft for 1 hour.
Descend to 2,000 feet
Turn 1 – perform a 180 degree sustained turn (Ps = 0) at 150 keas, Turning radius no greater than 2,500 ft.
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Cruise at minimum allowable speed for 20 nmi
Turn 2 – perform a 180 degree sustained turn (Ps = 0) at 200 keas, Turning radius no greater than 4,000 ft.
Climb to cruise altitude no lower than 25,000 ft
Cruise back 300 nmi at optimum altitude and Mach number
Land
Reserves: 30min loiter 5000 ft at optimum speed for endurance
Secondary Mission – Low Altitude Patrol
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Take off
Climb to an optimum cruise altitude no lower than 25,000 ft and no higher than 37,000 ft.
Cruise out 300 nmi
Descend to 2,000 feet
Cruise at optimum speed no greater than 250 keas for maximum allowable distance
Climb to cruise altitude no lower than 25,000 ft
Cruise back 300 nmi at optimum altitude and Mach number
Land
Reserves: 60 min loiter 5000 ft at optimum speed for endurance
Performance Requirements
Sustained Load factor – Maximum Thrust
Sea level / Mach = 0.4
3
2g Specific Excess Power - Maximum Thrust
Sea level / Mach = 0.5
100 ft/s
25,000 ft / Mach = 0.8
50 ft/s